Events

Experience The Polar Express™ Train Ride

Select dates November – December, 2015

The wonder never fades for those who believe.

For the first time in the history of the Colorado Railroad Museum, the story of THE POLAR EXPRESS™ is being theatrically re-created so you and your family can be immersed in the sights, sounds and intrigue of this classic children’s tale. Prepare to be surrounded by the magic and wonder of the holiday season!

Show Times: 4:30pm 6:00pm 7:30pm
Each performance will last approximately 75 minutes.
PLEASE ARRIVE 30 MINUTES EARLY FOR YOUR DESIGNATED PERFORMANCE.

Anticipate Your Journey
As you and your family take in the festive holiday decorations at THE POLAR EXPRESS™ Train Ride depot, you can almost discern the faint sound of sleigh bells in the distance. Visitors will be greeted at the main entrance and will receive their souvenir “Golden Tickets” before being directed to their performance area:

Before long, a scene from the story comes to life around you as dancing chefs and waiters arrive to serve cookies and hot chocolate. The wide-eyed children are invited to engage these winsome and inviting characters who are eager to hear from the youngsters about what makes the Christmas season special to them.

While the hot chocolate lingers in your mouth and warms your belly, you hear the story told once again in its entirety. A smile grows on your face as you watch your child get absorbed in the wonderment of the story like never before in anticipation of their own journey aboard THE POLAR EXPRESS™ Train Ride.

After the storytelling concludes, the train conductor invites you and the other expectant passengers to assemble on the platform as your train arrives in a billow of steam. “All aboooooard!” Anticipation builds to a fevered pitch when the conductor punches your ticket and you step onto the rail car to be escorted to your seat.

Experience The First Gift of Christmas
Once your adventure aboard THE POLAR EXPRESS™ Train Ride begins, you notice other key elements of the story, both inside and outside your rail car, springing to life. Watch and listen as yet another scene unfolds on board before your very eyes, giving you and your family the experience of becoming characters in the story’s plot.

Upon arrival at the “North Pole,” keep your eyes peeled for Santa’s sleigh, a bag of toys, and a giant Christmas tree. After the train slows to a stop, you find yourself delighting in the inspiring climax of the story as it takes place right outside your window. Children softly gasp as Santa presents “The First Gift of Christmas” to the young Hero Boy.

After the train departs the “North Pole” for the return voyage to the Depot, you soon take note that the adventure isn’t over. Santa appears in your very midst to present each ticketed child with their very own “First Gift of Christmas” souvenir bell. Thinking back to the story, you are inclined to remind the children to check their pockets for holes.

GREEN: & BLUE: ticket holders, including adults, will also receive a special souvenir hot chocolate mug to remember their experience.

BLUE: service ticket holders will have a very elegant and personalized Polar Express experience in private cars including “The First Gift of Christmas” presented by Santa Claus in a special commemorative box with each child’s name. Also, each BLUE: ticketed family will receives an exclusive copy of THE POLAR EXPRESS™ book signed by Santa himself!

As the train approaches the final stop, your participation in the story of THE POLAR EXPRESS™ comes to an end. However, our hope for your family is that your holiday season has been enriched and memories from your immersive experience will endure for years to come.

Chances are, you will never read the story of THE POLAR EXPRESS™ the same again.

Ticket Fares:RED: $30 ($20 for children 11 and under)
Includes hot chocolate, cookie, telling of the story, train ride to the “North Pole,” meeting Santa, and ticketed children receive a souvenir “First Gift of Christmas” bell.

GREEN: $40.00 ($30 for children 11 and under)
Includes all of the above plus elegant seating in the recently restored Union Pacific Coach & Diner Cars and your own POLAR EXPRESS™ souvenir hot chocolate mug.

BLUE: $100.00 ($75 for children 11 and under)
Includes all of the above PLUS intimate seating in our luxury 1880′s private cars, “The First Gift of Christmas” will be presented to each ticketed child in a special presentation box with their name and each Blue: ticketed family will receives an exclusive copy of THE POLAR EXPRESS™ book signed by Santa himself!

Museum Members receive a $3 discount per ticket. Children under 2 can ride free on a ticketed adult’s lap. Due to the historic nature of the rail equipment in use, the Polar Express Train Ride is not an ADA accessible event. A $4 fee is charged per ticket for exchanges. There are no refunds on Polar Express tickets.

About Colorado Railroad Museum

There's something amazing about trains. The familiar whistle has always promised adventure. The gentle rock of the rails has set the rhythm of our lives. Experience it again at the Colorado Railroad Museum with over 100 narrow and standard gauge steam and diesel locomotives, passenger cars, cabooses and G-scale garden railway on our 15-acre railyard.

Also, see our exhibit galleries, renowned library, roundhouse restoration facility and working turntable. Visit the General Store with thousands of train gifts for every rail fan. Group rates and programs available.